Joel 2:28
And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions...

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Wednesday, April 23, 2014

Where Do Our Real Affections Lie....

We were recently at a conference where the topic was I Cor. 3:10-15 about building with gold, silver and precious stones and not wood, hay and stubble. Building with eternal treasures and with our minds set on eternal things. Then my thoughts drifted to the parable in Luke 12:13-21, the parable of the rich fool. In order to hold more of his earthly possessions, grain, he pulled down the old barns to build new, bigger ones. Hold more "stuff". When that night his life was being demanded of him, everything stayed here on earth. It says in Luke 12:15 "Take care! Be on guard against all kinds of greed; for one's life does not consist in the abundance of possessions." Was the things this man was storing up bad? No. It made sense to him. It was useful things. But, the real matter lies in the heart. In verse 34 of the same chapter of Luke the Lord says, "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

Luke 12:29-34 and Matthew 6:19-21 they speak of not storing up treasures on earth, but to store up for yourselves treasures in heaven. I know there have been times in my life that the Lord has asked of me things and some of my first thoughts have been about my stuff or my earthly possessions. There are times that people I know have not been quick to do what God has asked them to do, or put it off, because it interfered with their mountain of activities, busyness, and stuff in their lives. It's not about having things that I feel we need to be on watch for, but, the things having us. If the things in our lives keep us from being obedient to the will of the Father, then our hearts affections are not towards God. Not fully at least.

I know for our family, had we been in debt to stuff in our lives we couldn't freely have moved to other countries to fulfill the will of the Father for those times in our lives. Had we been too busy or over scheduled, we would always have found reasons or ways that we couldn't do what God had been asking of us.

In July of 2011, God asked us to come back to the States from Nicaragua. It was a hard move for us and for our family. We had not been in the States for 9 years (living here at least). We sold or gave away most everything we owned and our kids had to make the same difficult decisions about their stuff. It was not an easy transition. But wouldn't you know it, 2 1/2 years later, we have stuff. It's amazing how quickly you can accumulate things, useful things, but it's still just things. Also living here in the USA I have realized how everything revolves around more things/stuff. The commercials, seeing others homes, lifestyles all lend to the desire for more.

But, the questions we must ask ourselves are real, necessary and need to be confronted:

Where, now, does our desire for more of the Kingdom fit in?

Where is our desire for more of God?

Desire for the things that moth nor rust consume and where thieves do not break in and steal? (Matt 6:20)

I believe that God is causing us to turn our affections towards him...not out of fear, but out of love for our Father. Not because the economy or future is unknown or seems uncertain...but because the one rock we can stand on, the one true foundation, that does not change, shift or shake is Jesus Christ and the faithfulness of the Father. In Him we have the strength to do all that He could ever ask or require of us.

Matthew 6:25-33 and Luke 12:22-34 encourages to trust in the Lord and not worry. He knows what we have need of. He is a good Father!! All He desires is we follow Him with our whole heart, obedient to His call. Matthew 6:33 says, "But strive first for the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well" Many of times we have put our focus too much on the latter part of that verse...all these things will be given to you as well. Things, amazing how our focus can shift. But the true focus should be on the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. It even says that we must strive, put great effort forth, first for the kingdom of God.

Have we spent enough time daily focusing on the kingdom of God first?

I encourage you, forget putting all your thoughts and emotions into the things of this world, the busyness, accumulating more stuff/things. Seek the Kingdom first!!! He is a good Father, He promises to take care of us, and He will.

Take some time and search your heart. Where do your affections lie? Have there been times that things of this world affect your ability to do the things God has asked of you? This is a daily dying to our flesh, the ways of man, but the results are worth it. Fully submitting to the Kingdom of God and receiving His full Kingdom backing in return. God is good, faithful, eternal.

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The Euceda Family

We have been blessed to live in other countries and to minister to those whom God has called us to. And we've had the joy of doing it together, as a FAMILY!! Continuing to walk in obedience to God, wherever and whatever He wants us and calls us.